PHOTO GALLERY: Tour of Missouri kicks off in St. Louis

Members of Team Columbia-HTC and a lone member of Team Cervelo move to the front of the pack as they work their way along 7th Street in St. Louis as part of the 7.5 mile circuit of the first stage of the Tour of Missouri on Monday. The first stage was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish, competing for Columbia-HTC, and consisted of ten laps of the circuit.¦David Kennedy

The first stage of the Tour of Missouri cycling race was a 75-mile circuit race Monday in St. Louis. The second stage of the seven-day event is a 112-mile road race from Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau.

Addy Engels, a cyclist from the Netherlands, tries to get around a competing team's support car. Engels finished 80th in Monday's 75-mile circuit race — the first stage of this year's Tour of Missouri. ¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

Racers pedal down Seventh Street in St. Louis during the final lap of Monday's circuit race — the first stage of this year's Tour of Missouri. ¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

Spectators find a cool spot in the shade during the first stage of the Tour of Missouri on Monday in St. Louis. ¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

Floyd Landis, left, and Mark Cavendish, right, ride in the first stage of the 2009 Tour of Missouri on Monday in St. Louis. Cavendish won the stage in just less than 2 hours and 44 minutes. ¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

St. Louis police officer Joseph Marcantano keeps an eye on spectators as cyclists speed past during the first stage of the Tour of Missouri on Monday in St. Louis. ¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

George Hincapie, center, waits at the starting line for Monday's circuit race in St. Louis to begin. The event was the first stage of this year's Tour of Missouri cycling race.¦ DAVID KENNEDY/Missourian

Alessandro Vanotti, center, of Team Liquigas competes in the first stage of the Tour of Missouri on Monday. The stage consisted of ten laps of a 7.5 mile circuit through St. Louis and was won by Britain's Mark Cavendish of Team Columbia-HTC. ¦David Kennedy